Insights

Fiber leadership, from the inside.

Original research, market notes, and hiring guides on fiber and telecom leadership.

Flagship Research

The Fiber Leadership Index

61% of fiber CEOs come up through general management. 1 in 5 founded the company they run. PE sponsors keep founders in the seat; public boards carry none. How leaders reach five C-suite seats at 50 U.S. broadband operators.

Index · Updated July 2026
Guide

Big firm, staffing agency, or boutique

An honest comparison of the three search models, and when each is the right call for a fiber leadership hire.

Guide · August 2026
Article

Why fiber companies do not need the same C-suite

When a chief title is missing, accountability often sits with an EVP, SVP or VP. The mandate matters more than the label.

August 2026 · 8 min read
Methodology

How the Index is built

The research rules behind the numbers: the 50-operator universe, family definitions, source standards, audit sampling, and the meaning of "not publicly identified".

Reference · July 2026
Market Notes

What the Zayo / Crown Castle fiber deal means for leadership

224,000 route miles under one operator. The capital moved to enterprise and AI transport, and leadership profiles follow the capital.

Market Notes · August 2026
Market Notes

AI demand is rewriting the fiber leadership profile

Billion-dollar dark fiber deals and hyperscale interconnection reward a profile the homes-passed era did not produce.

Market Notes · August 2026
Market Notes

The broadband workforce gap is a leadership problem

Roughly 178,000 workers must be recruited and trained through 2032. Workforce strategy is set two levels above the crew.

Market Notes · August 2026